Why Continental can blow me... Options

[Hartmann]

I have been switching back and forth between AA and Continental (CO) for work so that I can gain status on both of them (I have status on AA but I want Executive Platinum), so I decided to take CO for a vacation to Boston. My girlfriend and I were flying out of IAH at 7:40am so we arrived at 6am and got in line, which was out the door because of Spring Break.

We waited in line for about 30 minutes till a lady a came up to me, asked if I had checked-in online (I had) and asked if I had my confirmation number (I didn't have a printer so I said "No"). She told me to go to the Continental.com bag drop, we did.

We get over there and wait 45 minutes because they were having trouble with some people's bags and finally got to the kiosk, where it asked me for my confirmation number. I called over a CO employee and told her that I didn't have the number and in a rude tone she tells me that's all we can use in that line. I explain to her how we were sent over from the other line even though I didn't have a confirmation number. She goes on to tell me to get my confirmation # or go to the other line. I call a friend who logs into my e-mail account, gets my confirmation # and helps me out, or at least I thought. After the bickering and waiting and finally getting the # into the machine, the window for us to use the kiosk to check bags had expired (30 minutes before flight). The CO employee that had been rude has the gall to laugh at us... I almost lost it but didn't want to get arrested.

She directs us to the line we had come from even though there were people behind the counter who could have helped us and got us on our way.

We head back to the other line and wait, me knowing at this point it would be a miracle for us to make our flight. Then after waiting 10 minutes, the employee who was rude, comes over, opens our line and directs about 10 people, including us back to where we just came from to check our bags.... None of the people had their confirmation numbers but the people behind the counters helped them. They finally helped us but we had missed our flight. CO put us on standby for the next flight (which was oversold) and then finally confirmed us for the flight after that. Basically we sat in an airport for 10 hours.

I went to customer service and complained, a lot. They gave me a $5 voucher (each) for a drink or set of headphones on the flight... unbelievable.

Then to top it all off, during this process they had deleted our reservation, rebooked it, but did it incorrectly, putting my girlfriend and I on separate flights. They fixed that finally but didn't have us sitting together. At least the folks at BOS were nicer and got us seats together.

Just a bad experience.

[Hartmann]

Impala, you are pointing out the distinct difference in how legacy carriers and low cost carriers do business. Legacy carriers rely on their hubs so that they can destinations that SW can't, such as Cattletsburg, KY, somewhere I have to go next week.

Lubbock is a poor choice to do your comparison shopping because it's basically a regional airport with only a few flights to anywhere but Texas destinations (ATA flies to HON out of LBB, btw).

I flew SW out of there simply because I didn't want to fly in the puddle jumper regional jets that CO and AA operate. You notice Delta and United both dropped out of Lubbock... It wasn't a profitable market. People weren't trying to go from Lubbock to Chicago or Lubbock to Atlanta. They were trying to go from Lubbock to Vegas and Lubbock to Albuquerque or Houston. SW is perfect for that situation.

A friend and I flew from Lubbock to Seattle on SW and it sucked. We connected in Las Vegas (after a 3 hour wait), then we lost two hours because of the time change. We could have just flown AA to DFW and got a quick connection to Seattle.

It's 6" one way, half a foot the other.

I think Austin is a better choice for doing price comparisons. You can do United, JetBlue, Frontier, AA, Delta, SW, and Continental out of there and some of them don't have connections.

Also, I'd like to point out that while most of my SW experiences have been good ones, there have been some pretty bad ones as well.

In other news, this is huge for people traveling to Europe: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/200...-approved_N.htm

[impala454]

Impala, you are pointing out the distinct difference in how legacy carriers and low cost carriers do business. Legacy carriers rely on their hubs so that they can destinations that SW can't, such as Cattletsburg, KY, somewhere I have to go next week.

Lubbock is a poor choice to do your comparison shopping because it's basically a regional airport with only a few flights to anywhere but Texas destinations (ATA flies to HON out of LBB, btw).

ok so lubbock is a bad choice, but Cattletsburg, KY is?

You notice Delta and United both dropped out of Lubbock... It wasn't a profitable market.

it wasn't profitable for them, because everybody flies SW

A friend and I flew from Lubbock to Seattle on SW and it sucked. We connected in Las Vegas (after a 3 hour wait), then we lost two hours because of the time change. We could have just flown AA to DFW and got a quick connection to Seattle.

so AA has some kind of magic device that eliminates the time change between lubbock and seattle? and you'd rather add two hours to your flight right up front by going to DFW on the way?

Also, I'd like to point out that while most of my SW experiences have been good ones, there have been some pretty bad ones as well.

well that's understandable, but your thread started with you bitching about CO

I personally have never had any bad experiences with SW. has there been delayed flights? of course, but any airline will have problems with weather and such. if there is a connection, the gates are usually very close together, the seats are bigger, and I can sit where I want. I've sat on the tarmac for an hour waiting for CO to fix the damn plane. with SW only using one plane, it seems to eliminate or shorten these problems. i think it's very smart business (which is pretty obvious by how well they're doing).

[Hartmann]

ok so lubbock is a bad choice, but Cattletsburg, KY is?

No, but SW doesn't fly anywhere close except Columbus, USair, Delta, and Continental have directs to airports a lot closer.

it wasn't profitable for them, because everybody flies SW

No, Lubbock isn't a profitable air market, period. SW has a limited presence in Lubbock, it's only appears bigger because they fly one aircraft. I guarantee that if they had a smaller plane in their fleet, it'd be deployed to Lubbock. I've been on SW out of there that were completely empty. Fly out during off-peak times, you'll see what I mean.

so AA has some kind of magic device that eliminates the time change between lubbock and seattle? and you'd rather add two hours to your flight right up front by going to DFW on the way?

It's a 50 minute flight to DFW and the connection is 30 minutes later. So in an hour and 20 minutes, I am in the air on the way to Seattle instead of sitting in Albuquerque for 3 hours waiting. Though, going through Vegas allows you to gamble during your stop.

well that's understandable, but your thread started with you bitching about CO

I will continue to bitch about CO, though I did get an apology this afternoon, written and from a rep over the phone. CO is up and down for me. SW is just a bad choice for cross-country and most business traveling (in my view). If you like being herded for long haul flights, which by the way, usually have to stop in St. Louis or something, then SW is your airline.

I personally have never had any bad experiences with SW. has there been delayed flights? of course, but any airline will have problems with weather and such. if there is a connection, the gates are usually very close together, the seats are bigger, and I can sit where I want. I've sat on the tarmac for an hour waiting for CO to fix the damn plane. with SW only using one plane, it seems to eliminate or shorten these problems. i think it's very smart business (which is pretty obvious by how well they're doing).

SW has its own problems with being late. Oddly enough, CO's main plane is the same as SW, the 737-500. I have sat waiting for a part at Lubbock before too... We waited so long the next flight leaving took off before ours. No company is without problems or mechanical failures and when you fly a wide variety of airlines you realize that.

I disagree about SW's connections, but that's just me.

[impala454]

No, Lubbock isn't a profitable air market, period. SW has a limited presence in Lubbock, it's only appears bigger because they fly one aircraft. I guarantee that if they had a smaller plane in their fleet, it'd be deployed to Lubbock. I've been on SW out of there that were completely empty. Fly out during off-peak times, you'll see what I mean.

well no shit lubbock isn't a profitable air market, but the other carriers did pull out because they were less profitable than SW out of lubbock.

It's a 50 minute flight to DFW and the connection is 30 minutes later. So in an hour and 20 minutes, I am in the air on the way to Seattle instead of sitting in Albuquerque for 3 hours waiting.

ok so an hour and 20 minutes later, you're still 50 minutes further to the east . you forgot to include that. and i seriously doubt every single SW flight that direction sits in alb for 3 hours.

you like being herded for long haul flights, which by the way, usually have to stop in St. Louis or something,

wrong again my friend... there's plenty of flights all the way across the country non-stop on SW. from both large and small cities.
check em out here: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/rou...tml?ref=wwf_fgn
honestly I was surprised by it.. i think SW really is expanding their service nationwide.

SW has its own problems with being late. Oddly enough, CO's main plane is the same as SW, the 737-500. I have sat waiting for a part at Lubbock before too... We waited so long the next flight leaving took off before ours. No company is without problems or mechanical failures and when you fly a wide variety of airlines you realize that.

well flights being late due to mechanical problems vs weather are two different things. i have never sat on the tarmac on a SW flight for more than 10 minutes. i've only flown continental about 8 times, and sat on the tarmac for over 30 minutes at least on half of those flights. maybe it's simply a side effect of SW flying to the smaller airports i dunno.

and as far as flying out of houston, i'd rather fly out of hobby any day. it's much closer to me, and not nearly as crowded.

let's quit arguing and just agree that all airlines suck because they're run by incompetent boobs

ya want more drama ya want less drama... shit man make up your mind

[Hartmann]

well no shit lubbock isn't a profitable air market, but the other carriers did pull out because they were less profitable than SW out of lubbock.

I would put money on SW not being very profitable out of Lubbock. The catch is that the other airlines weren't profitable to their destinations. If Delta flew to Vegas from Lubbock they'd probably do alright.

ok so an hour and 20 minutes later, you're still 50 minutes further to the east . you forgot to include that. and i seriously doubt every single SW flight that direction sits in alb for 3 hours.

Well when you're finally boarding your plane, I'll be an hour away from Seattle

wrong again my friend... there's plenty of flights all the way across the country non-stop on SW. from both large and small cities.
check em out here: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/rou...tml?ref=wwf_fgn
honestly I was surprised by it.. i think SW really is expanding their service nationwide.

There are very few non-stop cross country flights from that map... LAX-BWI only two flights are nonstop. Those are 5 hour flights that cross mealtime. Better bring your food on board.

well flights being late due to mechanical problems vs weather are two different things. i have never sat on the tarmac on a SW flight for more than 10 minutes. i've only flown continental about 8 times, and sat on the tarmac for over 30 minutes at least on half of those flights. maybe it's simply a side effect of SW flying to the smaller airports i dunno.

I have been on a lot of airlines and sat on the tarmac with all of them at one time or another. Like I said, I was on a SW flight that left after the next flight out did because of mechanical issues. My girlfriend left HOU late because the flight was late getting in (on SW) just last week.

and as far as flying out of houston, i'd rather fly out of hobby any day. it's much closer to me, and not nearly as crowded.

Hobby is convenient, but if you are anywhere but in the Southwest area, it's dirty and smells awful.

To me this isn't drama, it's the question of flying preference. I can argue timing all day simply because I've tried to book on SW at convenient times and can't get the right connections or the connections take too long. If SW let me choose my connections, I may be happier.

Their (SW) rewards program kind of sucks too... The free liquor coupons are a nice touch.

[impala454]

I would put money on SW not being very profitable out of Lubbock.

i still don't think you caught what i said. i never said any airline in lubbock is profitable. i said the other ones probably dropped lubbock because they were LESS profitable than SW.

Well when you're finally boarding your plane, I'll be an hour away from Seattle

i don't know where the hell you're getting this...

lubbock -> seattle:
best flight time (straight off their websites)
SW: 5:55 (1 stop LAS)
CO: 7:28 (1 stop IAH) (so I can see why you say you need a meal on CO)

There are very few non-stop cross country flights from that map...

LA->philly
LA->baltimore
LA->chicago
LA->nashville
houston->oakland
houston->philly
houston->baltimore
oakland->philly
oakland->baltimore
vegas->pretty much everywhere
phoenix->pretty much everywhere
need i keep listing? maybe you didnt understand the map.

Those are 5 hour flights that cross mealtime. Better bring your food on board.

so let me get this straight.. you can't go 5 hours without eating a full meal? so you eat lunch at noon, you're starving of malnutrition by 5:15 or so? or the 4 or so bags of peanuts they'll give you can't hold you over? geez i'd hate to be on a road trip with you.

I have been on a lot of airlines and sat on the tarmac with all of them at one time or another. Like I said, I was on a SW flight that left after the next flight out did because of mechanical issues. My girlfriend left HOU late because the flight was late getting in (on SW) just last week.

well great then it's a moot point for you, as far as your concerned, all airlines are the same as far as maintinence problems.

Hobby is convenient, but if you are anywhere but in the Southwest area, it's dirty and smells awful.

the airport smells??? not sure what you're talkin about here

To me this isn't drama, it's the question of flying preference. I can argue timing all day simply because I've tried to book on SW at convenient times and can't get the right connections or the connections take too long. If SW let me choose my connections, I may be happier.

or have no connections at all?

Their (SW) rewards program kind of sucks too... The free liquor coupons are a nice touch.

perhaps paying less for every flight is nicer?

[Hartmann]

i still don't think you caught what i said. i never said any airline in lubbock is profitable. i said the other ones probably dropped lubbock because they were LESS profitable than SW.

You're saying that SW is more profitable, and while I am agreeing I am stating that they are profitable for the simple reason that they are a Texas airline, I wasn't arguing.

i don't know where the hell you're getting this...

lubbock -> seattle:
best flight time (straight off their websites)
SW: 5:55 (1 stop LAS)
CO: 7:28 (1 stop IAH) (so I can see why you say you need a meal on CO)

AA gets me there in 6. LAS has delay problems which adds time onto the SW flight (though DFW lately isn't much better). Again, I am not trying to argue that CO is a better airline, they pissed me off. I was just stating why I don't fly SW that much (and why a lot of corporate people don't). I cannot fly into major business hubs without stopping or sitting next to a 3 yr. old who gets his peanuts all over me. To put it simply, SW is the Wal-Mart of airlines, they just treat their employees better. This doesn't mean SW isn't great in some situations, it just isn't great for all of them.

LA->philly
LA->baltimore
LA->chicago
LA->nashville
houston->oakland
houston->philly
houston->baltimore
oakland->philly
oakland->baltimore
vegas->pretty much everywhere
phoenix->pretty much everywhere
need i keep listing? maybe you didnt understand the map.

Well, considering the only ones on your list that are transcon flights are la-philly (barely), and oakland-baltimore and philly, no not really. The rest of those flights are considered mid-con. They have no SFO-NY area flights direct (important), they have no SEA-BWI flights (somewhat important), and LAX-BOS or LAX-MIA (another important one). Those are transcon flights. Anything that takes off in the middle of the country usually takes 3-4 hours to get anywhere else. So, like I said, they do not have a lot of options to a lot of places that other airlines do. Which brings up another point, SW does not have redeyes.

so let me get this straight.. you can't go 5 hours without eating a full meal? so you eat lunch at noon, you're starving of malnutrition by 5:15 or so? or the 4 or so bags of peanuts they'll give you can't hold you over? geez i'd hate to be on a road trip with you.

I get hungry yes, and a bag of peanuts doesn't hold anyone over. On roadtrips, I bring food, so you wouldn't have to worry about it. I used to drive from Lubbock to Houston only stopping to get gas one time.

well great then it's a moot point for you, as far as your concerned, all airlines are the same as far as maintinence problems.

I was simply making it clear that SW isn't this righteous airline that doesn't have maintenance problems.

the airport smells??? not sure what you're talkin about here

Yes, smells. Go hang out in that food court. I was sitting there on saturday and could barely finish my beer because of the smell of the place. The SW area is nice but everything else is a dump. The parking situation kind of sucks as well.

or have no connections at all?
perhaps paying less for every flight is nicer?

Some flights are cheaper. A lot of flights aren't. I just looked up a HOU-BWI flight and it was more expensive than the AA options. I have watched SW fares increase slowly over the past few months... I am preparing myself for some low fares though as they try to blow Virgin America out of the water and keep them from being profitable.

[impala454]

Well, considering the only ones on your list that are transcon flights are la-philly (barely), and oakland-baltimore and philly, no not really. The rest of those flights are considered mid-con. They have no SFO-NY area flights direct (important), they have no SEA-BWI flights (somewhat important), and LAX-BOS or LAX-MIA (another important one). Those are transcon flights. Anything that takes off in the middle of the country usually takes 3-4 hours to get anywhere else. So, like I said, they do not have a lot of options to a lot of places that other airlines do. Which brings up another point, SW does not have redeyes.

ok first you said cross country, then you said trans-continental. i don't really see how you wouldn't consider oakland -> baltimore a trans-continental flight, but whatever. oakland->chicago is like 2000 miles, I'd consider that a pretty long flight with no stops. it's obvious that they don't have as many choices as the other airlines, but that's not what you said, you said there was very few, and there really is a lot.

I get hungry yes, and a bag of peanuts doesn't hold anyone over. On roadtrips, I bring food, so you wouldn't have to worry about it. I used to drive from Lubbock to Houston only stopping to get gas one time.

so, you couldn't eat something after you landed? i mean, seriously man you're really bein a puss. i've made that nasty lubbock to houston drive a lot too, same deal, stop in commanche for gas and drive through. that's 8 hrs though

I was simply making it clear that SW isn't this righteous airline that doesn't have maintenance problems.
Yes, smells. Go hang out in that food court. I was sitting there on saturday and could barely finish my beer because of the smell of the place. The SW area is nice but everything else is a dump. The parking situation kind of sucks as well.

ok but now we're getting into airports and not airlines. i've never really noticed any particular smell, but i guess i don't hang around the airport any longer than an hour either. as far as i'm concerned, the quality of the airport comes in a distant second to the location and convienence.

Some flights are cheaper. A lot of flights aren't. I just looked up a HOU-BWI flight and it was more expensive than the AA options. I have watched SW fares increase slowly over the past few months... I am preparing myself for some low fares though as they try to blow Virgin America out of the water and keep them from being profitable.

hmm... i don't know where you're looking, but i just priced one for tomorrow:
SW: $334, non stop, 3:00
AA (shortest flight): $773, 1 stop DFW, 4:35
AA (cheapest flight): $343, 1 stop DFW, 5:05 (obviously worth the insane price difference)